1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: That he should no longer live the rest of his 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: time in the flesh to the loss of men, but 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: to the will of God First Peter four two. Dear Lord, 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: since my conversion to Christ, you have radically altered my 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: heart and life. You renewed my mind, affections, and conversation. 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: You have cleansed me of all unrighteousness and restored my 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: self esteem. When I think of my past life and 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: how I wasted my time with foolish sin, I grieve. 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: I no longer find the things of this world enticing 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: are satisfying. I desire to do your will and understand 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: the beauty of your kingdom. Since you open my eyes 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: to the spiritual truth, I realize how much there is 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: to learn. Teach me how to prepare for my life 14 00:00:51,680 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: with you in eternity. Amen. Thank you. Thank you for 15 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: listening to pray dot COM's nightly prayer to experience a 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: pocket of peace before you go to sleep. Stay tuned 17 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: for our free meditative prayer after this quick word from 18 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: our sponsors. 19 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: Welcome to your meditative prayer on Stoic Leadership. To get 20 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: the most out of your spiritual journey, use pray dot 21 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: com every day and make prayer a priority in your life. 22 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: Our goal for today's meditative prayer is stoic leadership. Head 23 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: to a calm space. Take a minute to gather your 24 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: thoughts and quiet your spirit. Close your eyes, breathe easy. 25 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: Now fix your attention on God and on what He 26 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: has for you. This day we will be meditating on 27 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 2: Titus chapter one, verses seven through eight from the King 28 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: James version. For a bishop must be blameless as the 29 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: steward of God, not self willed, not soon angry, not 30 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 2: given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucra, 31 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate. 32 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: Take some time to adore God for being the perfect example. God, 33 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: I look to you and praise you for your greatness. 34 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: I worship you for the salvation found through your sacrifice 35 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: and submission at Cavalry, for your perfect portrayal of leadership 36 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 2: in love displayed at the Cross. I praise you for 37 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: you overcame, you challenged the world, and won. I extol 38 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: you for your life is a living example of hope 39 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: and victory for all humanity. Leaders lead by example. It 40 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: is human nature to mimic and mirror observed behavior, especially 41 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: of those perceived as powerful or in positions of authority. 42 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: As a godly leader, you are called to imitate Christ 43 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: and to lead by example. Jesus Christ was a consistent 44 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: and complete illustration of what a leader should be. He 45 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: lived to serve and served in love, placing the needs 46 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: of others before his own, and seeking to do God's 47 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: will in all things. As Christ lived in lead, so 48 00:03:53,520 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: should you Understandably this can seem a daunting duty, as 49 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: Jesus set the bar high. Yet do not be discouraged 50 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: or disheartened. God knows the task of leadership is not easy, 51 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: and you are not perfect. You will war with yourself 52 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 2: and struggle with your flesh to lead as Christ did. Nonetheless, 53 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 2: you must not allow imperfections and insecurities to stop you, 54 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: to keep you from striving to imitate Christ and to 55 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: lead by example. Confess your sins and shortcomings to the 56 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. He will care for you and aid you. 57 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: Take a moment to dwell on God's amazing leadership. Think 58 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: of how Jesus acted while here on earth. Thank him 59 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 2: for submitting himself in obedience to God's will, for continuously 60 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: and wholeheartedly loving others in kindness and humility. Thank him 61 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: for setting aside his personal desires for them benefit of mankind, 62 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: and for being the perfect example to be emulated. Give 63 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: thanks to God for his leadership over you, yesterday, today, 64 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: and always. God is present and he is listening to you. 65 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: Jesus was intimately acquainted with the burden of leadership. He 66 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: is aware of the struggle and hardship associated with being 67 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: looked up to. As Jesus persevered in setting the example 68 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: through his actions, you will too. You are not alone. 69 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Submit your whole 70 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: heart to Christ. Ask him to empower you with conviction 71 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 2: and determination to love as Christ loved, to live as 72 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: Christ lived, and to lead as Christ led. Remember, leaders 73 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: should embody the antrytes they wish to see in others. 74 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: A leader should live a holy and blameless life filled 75 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: with self control, for leadership requires a life of humility 76 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: and righteousness, filled with peace, hospitality, love, wisdom, and lacking 77 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 2: in greed. A leader should be like Christ and should 78 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: lead by example. Be encouraged by God's love and testimony. 79 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: Strive to love and lead others in God's likeness, and 80 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: you will reap God's blessings. Thank you, for completing today's 81 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy 82 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer a 83 00:06:50,160 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 2: priority and strengthening your walk with God.